[lorend]

McMaster offers free tuition to children of fallen soldiers

http://dailynews.mcmaster.ca /story.cfm?id=6469

McMaster University will offer free tuition for four years, and provide residence accommodation and a meal plan in first year, to the children of Canadian soldiers who lost their lives in military action.

The University made the announcement yesterday morning.

"War takes a terrible toll on families - emotionally and in some cases financially - and we feel a responsibility to both honour the sacrifice and to do our small part in helping a soldier's family by offering access to a McMaster education," says Peter George, President of McMaster University. "McMaster is proud to be able to be a part of Project Hero."

Open to those under the age of 26, students will be required to identify themselves as a son or daughter of a Canadian soldier killed in active duty. The program is open until August 31, 2014, and provides a residence room and meal plan for the first year of study, and full tuition for four years of study. Eligibility will be verified by the Department of National Defense. Details can be found at http://sfas.mcmaster.ca/projecthero.htm.

Project Hero was co-founded by Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel Kevin Reed and Retired General Rick Hillier to provide support to the sons and daughters of Canadian military killed while serving in an active mission.

Project Hero scholarships are already being offered by Memorial University in Newfoundland, the University of Ottawa, the University of Windsor and the University of Calgary.

This makes me really happy.

A very classy move by McMaster, however, I’m not in favour of the expiration date. Many of the Canadian soldiers killed are young, and if they do have children, they are probably infants. As a result, they wouldn’t be able to qualify for this offer within the 5-year time frame.

So, I’m hoping either Project Hero or the Canadian government sets up a program that provides support for any post-secondary education, and without an expiration date. Also, it shouldn’t only just go to children of Canadian soldiers killed in action, but also children of Canadian soldiers killed in training, peacekeeping, etc.

Nevertheless, this initiative is a positive step, and goes to show, Canada leads the world in how well it takes care of its military personnel.

Hats off to McMaster and the other Universities participating in Project Hero!

Originally Posted by Joseph

A very classy move by McMaster, however, I’m not in favour of the expiration date. Many of the Canadian soldiers killed are young, and if they do have children, they are probably infants. As a result, they wouldn’t be able to qualify for this offer within the 5-year time frame.

So, I’m hoping either Project Hero or the Canadian government sets up a program that provides support for any post-secondary education, and without an expiration date. Also, it shouldn’t only just go to children of Canadian soldiers killed in action, but also children of Canadian soldiers killed in training, peacekeeping, etc.

Nevertheless, this initiative is a positive step, and goes to show, Canada leads the world in how well it takes care of its military personnel.

Hats off to McMaster and the other Universities participating in Project Hero!

Perfectly summed up my thoughts.

This is awesome!

PS: Why isn't the "Like This" function working for this article? :p

This is wonderful. I hope Mac removes the expiration date though.

Why?

I get that Remembrance Day has come and gone, but wouldn't this be more fruitful if it was based on merit? How about helping out those students that are intellectually superior but living in, or close to, poverty? Perhaps one day we can actually learn that war is not the answer and there is little, if any reason, to continue such missions in foreign lands.

Here's to remembering the fallen and hoping that no more shall continue to fall unnecessarily

Definitely a great decision, I also agree with everything Joseph mentioned, it should be permanent, not just for the next few years.

PS- It's not working for me either, not sure what's going on =/

Originally Posted by Jake

This is awesome!

PS: Why isn't the "Like This" function working for this article? :p

Originally Posted by Goce

How about helping out those students that are intellectually superior but living in, or close to, poverty?

Mac has bursaries in place for people whose parents have passed away, or live in or close to poverty. It's only natural that children of fallen soldiers have >= the same benefits.

Although I'll admit it should still be on a 'need' basis...like if someone is particularly wealthy, gets a load of life insurance, etc. then they shouldn't be given free tuition. But no system is perfect.

Yeah, I thought this was odd too. There are loads of students going through ridiculous situations which have no similarity to this one, whether it is extreme poverty or chronic illnesses or other family members pass away - but they aren't getting full tuition and free meal plans/residence. They do get bursaries (sometimes not even that depending on the situation), but not to the extent of this.

Just seems to me like, while this is a really great thing, because there is an expiration date and it excludes students going through equally hard situations - it seems like a business move or a publicity stunt even.

I like it... it's not necessarily perfect, but it's definitely good. A family that has lost a full income earner could be financially devastated (meaning the children could lose their opportunity for postsecondary education), and this pretty much takes care of that.

It's also a really nice way to say "thank you" for the sacrifice they made on our behalf.

Originally Posted by Goce

Why?

I get that Remembrance Day has come and gone, but wouldn't this be more fruitful if it was based on merit? How about helping out those students that are intellectually superior but living in, or close to, poverty? Perhaps one day we can actually learn that war is not the answer and there is little, if any reason, to continue such missions in foreign lands.

Here's to remembering the fallen and hoping that no more shall continue to fall unnecessarily

Because losing a parent is one of the most, if not the most, difficult things in the world. And these soldiers can't be properly thanked for their dedication and sacrifice, so the next best thing is to thank their families.

Mac offers scholarships to students with good grades, and loans and bursaries to students with financial need.

Very classy move by McMaster, indeed! I agree with everyone here, they should really get rid of the expiration date if McMaster really does mean this.

The “Like This” button isn’t working because Joseph glitched the system haha. Notice why he’s the only that used the “Like This” button. :p

Originally Posted by Jake

This is awesome!

PS: Why isn't the "Like This" function working for this article? :p